125. A New Name

The banquet ended with a fireworks display. The sky lit up with vibrant explosions.

I rested my hands on the terrace railing, staring blankly at the sky as the fireworks burst overhead and scattered. The fireworks shot up into the sky, only to lose their shape and fade away.

Rain began to fall. The terrace I stood on was partially covered, and I hadn’t noticed the rain.

When the wind blew, raindrops splashed inwards. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a step back, only to find an umbrella suddenly shading me. Deon had approached quietly and opened an umbrella over us.

Despite the umbrella, raindrops still dripped onto my nose from above. I looked up. Deon had tilted the umbrella towards me, letting water drip from his hair.

The festival spirit reignited even in the rain. Though the downpour dampened the flames, various family crests illuminated the sky. Flowers, butterflies, doves—various symbols burst forth one by one.

Then, with a bang, a wolf crest appeared. I shuddered at the sight of the symbol.

It was just a symbolic crest, like the duke’s eagle or the stag of the Snowa family. But the snarling wolf, baring its teeth, made my legs tremble again.

A curtain of rain blurred my vision. Deon had stepped between me and the wolf crest, blocking my view with the umbrella.

With my sight obscured, my trembling hands gradually steadied. I rubbed my cold, blue fingers to calm myself.

Noticing my movement, Deon turned his gaze from the sky to me.

“Does he know about this?”

“Who?”

“That man you call your husband.”

Of course not. There had never been rain when I was with him. We had never encountered wolves.

“If you live in the forest outside the empire, you’ll encounter many wild wolves.”

Instead of responding, I reached out toward the falling raindrops. The rain gently wetted my palm.

“Leonie, those nobles are watching you.”

At his words, I turned my head towards the banquet hall. Nobles were whispering and glancing at the terrace.

“They’re looking at Your Majesty. Who would pay attention to a mere lady when the emperor is beside her?”

“Regardless, they’re watching us.”

As he finished speaking, he pulled me closer. His arm wrapped around my shoulder, preventing me from pulling away.

We were so close our foreheads almost touched.

He smiled at me. Then, conspicuously, he lifted my hair and kissed it. It was a gesture more suited to a lover than a comrade.

Isn’t this too much for just an act? I stiffened but managed to smile instead of reacting.

In the past, I might have performed these affectionate acts for Deon’s sake, but now it was purely for my benefit.

I thought he would play along and step back when appropriate. But Deon was deeply engrossed in this performance, more committed than I had expected.

He was dedicated to the act, far more than necessary.

* * *

Greetings were exchanged in a whirlwind, and before long, the banquet was over. It was customary for the Emperor to leave first, receiving applause as he departed, and then returning to the palace.

As we walked through the palace corridors, waiting maids rushed out to remove the shawl from my shoulders. Adorned with heavy decorations, it weighed more than expected. Once it was gone, I felt as if a burden had been lifted.

A servant reached out to take Deon’s cloak, but he stopped him.

“There’s no need for assistance.”

“Then I shall escort you to the Emperor’s quarters.”

“I wish to enjoy the afterglow of the banquet alone with the Lady. Please leave us.”

The servants stiffened at his words but quickly retreated without a word.

Perhaps wanting to deceive even the eyes of the palace maids, he gently wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He then opened the door to the Empress’s quarters.

“If you need anything, just command it,” he said.

The servants bowed toward the door. As it slowly closed, Deon’s smile faded. He withdrew his hand from my shoulder.

“You must be tired. Call your maids to warm you up. I’ll head straight to the Emperor’s quarters.”

His voice was dry. Even the way he unbuttoned his shirt seemed weary.

“Right now?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll light the lamps in an hour so they’ll think we’re together.”

Deon, who had been all smiles and kindness in front of the nobles, turned cold as soon as we entered the Empress’s quarters. The gentle expression disappeared, and his smile faded.

“Shall I turn off the light in your room too?”

“No, it’s fine.”

His sudden change in demeanor left me feeling awkward. He nodded slightly and opened the door leading to the Emperor’s quarters.

“Good night, Leonie.”

As the chandelier lights of the banquet hall went out, it was as if a switch had been flipped, and his expression became emotionless.

Was it all just an act? Everything he did?

With no trace of a smile left, he casually said goodbye. The sweet conversations we had while he held my waist in front of the nobles were all an illusion, leaving no emotion behind.

Seeing how exhausted he looked, I couldn’t say anything more.

And there wasn’t much to say. Wasn’t it me who boldly declared I would leave without regret when the play was over?

After confirming that the door to the Emperor’s quarters was closed, I blew out the candle.

With the light extinguished, the room was plunged into complete darkness.

His cold manner of drawing a line left me feeling a bit empty.

He no longer touches me without permission. And I wouldn’t ask him to hold or touch me, so he won’t make any contact except when accompanying me in front of the nobles.

The more I thought about it, the more my mind raced. His desolate gaze and rough face kept coming to mind. I shook my head vigorously.

No, no. Why should I feel this way? Get a grip. Had I grown used to his warmth that quickly?

There’s no answer. Falling for a bit of kindness like this.

I was just as foolish as the original Leonie. Only slightly later.

* * *

The next day, Deon summoned me to his office. Following the knight, I found Deon at the table, spreading out some documents. He quietly placed the papers on the desk.

“Choose one. A estate you like.”

On the desk were maps of the empire’s territories and brief descriptions.

“Once you take the estate, the land will naturally follow.”

He spread the territories out as if he were offering me a choice of jewelry. Each location marked on the map was conveniently close to the capital.

The first estate, the Viscounty of Reijin, was one of the empire’s largest fruit-producing regions. Most of its residents operated farms, and the annual revenue was estimated at a million credits.

I turned to the second document.

The second estate, the County of Croix, was situated near the sea, making it a hub for maritime trade. It frequently interacted with neighboring kingdoms, earning revenue from lodging and tourism, especially in the summer.

I was satisfied with the list of territories he had prepared. I had expected him to simply assign me any estate, but he had meticulously compiled a list for me to compare and choose from.

After considering the third and fourth estates, I mulled over the names. Since the estate would be attached to my name for a long time, I had to choose carefully, focusing more on the name than the estate itself.

Leonie Reijin, Leonie Croix. The latter seemed to suit me better.

“I’ll take this one,” I said, selecting the County of Croix.

He slowly reviewed the document I handed him and then set aside his glasses.

“There’s a noble gathering in a few days. More nobles will attend this time than the last. It might be good to change your hair color in advance.”

As he reviewed the documents, Deon casually mentioned the upcoming event.

“Again?”

The banquet had just ended. We could use a little rest, but he was moving things along at lightning speed.

“It wouldn’t be bad to introduce you with your new title at the next gathering.”

“Can I receive the title that quickly, even though I just chose it today?”

“Who do you think is the last person to receive documents in the empire?”

It was only then that I truly realized he was the Emperor.

The final approval for changing noble titles rested with Deon. Since he was the ultimate executor, there was no chance of any delays.

“Isn’t it good for you? Once the banquet is over, you can quickly leave the empire.”

“It’s good, but I haven’t inspected the estate yet. This land will be mine to pass down through generations. I’d like to see it in person before deciding.”

“You can take your time inspecting the land after you receive the title.”

He folded one of the documents I had handed him in half.

“Your time in the palace is running out.”

“Yes, it is.”

The palace was undoubtedly the most splendid place in the empire. It was a bit sad to think that I would no longer see its dazzling and luxurious scenery.

“…Lady Croix,” he whispered softly. When I didn’t respond, he called the name again.

“Leonie Croix, look back.”

Only then did I realize he was calling me. The estate name I had chosen so carefully still felt unfamiliar.

The name sounded different than I had imagined. Hearing it from his lips, it felt as if he were calling someone else.

“Get used to it. It’s the name you wanted. Although, I wouldn’t mind if you never got used to it,” he said with a slight smile.

The name Croix rolled off his tongue much more sweetly than I had expected.